'Twas the night before Internext, and all through the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, webmasters were settling into their rooms and attending parties in preparation for Monday's launch of the revamped and re-invigorated, three-day trade show.
The festivities got off to a unique start with a New York-style party sponsored by TopBucks, PlugInFeeds, and YappoDollars. Held, appropriately enough, in the Piano Bar at the New York, New York Hotel and Casino, the event featured two singers belting out tunes from the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John and, the Violent Femmes while webmasters mingled and mixed around the room, which seemed to be energized with the buzz of expectation.
"I'm very excited [about being at Internext]," said HotMovies' affiliate manager, Monica L., who told AVNOnline.com that the company was in town with an agenda. "We want to maintain all our relationships with all of our affiliates and all the studios, and we're also looking to push our other sites beyond HotMovies, like GayHotMovies and HotMoviesForHer. So, I'm very excited to meet other female-run companies."
A relative newcomer to trade shows, Monica L. added that she was looking forward to seeing what Internext itself had in store for attendees. "I love coming to these shows and meeting everybody face to face. It seems like with this new setup, that a lot of people are coming, so I'm excited to see it. The workshops—everything sounds really exciting."
SilverCash's gay affiliate manager, Robert, concurred, adding that, based on the number of webmasters he'd encountered at Mandalay Bay, Internext seems to be on a path to success. "The reviews from last year's show weren't so positive, but it looks like it's really going to fill up this year," he offered. "I'm excited to do a lot of business here."
Following the Piano Bar event, several show attendees made their way to the show floor back at Mandalay Bay to attend the GFY-hosted kick-off party. Co-sponsored by PussyCash, CECash, and RealityCash, the event—held in one of the ballrooms—also featured an open bar, as well as a mechanical bull that several webmasters (not to mention a few sexy models) tried their hand at riding. As the room began to fill up, it became obvious to most that there was indeed a hearty turnout for this year's show.
"It's going to be great to meet some cool people and have a good time," said ExploitedCollegeGirls co-owner Eric, who was back at Internext for his sixth ("or seventh?") time—his first in two years. "The first time I came, I didn't know anybody in this business; I didn't even know there was a GFY. But, now that I know that, I know how to maximize my experience at these shows.
"I think quality attracts quality, and you can meet people and see what they're all about," Eric added. "You can make good contacts here, and once you meet the right people, they can introduce you to the right people, and so on down the stream."
Not that Eric was immune to the rest of what a show held in Sin City has to offer. "It's just getting to know the people that you talk to online. That, and the hot girls," he laughed. "Vegas is cool; it's got a cool party vibe. It makes it a lot cooler than, say, Nashville, Tenn. I'm looking forward to making my way over to the bar. We're in the entertainment business, so we might as well entertain ourselves."
Indeed. Welcome to Vegas, baby.
